Paper-receptacle-making machine.



E. L. BRACY.

PAPER RECEPTACLE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, I917.

1,271,422, Pafented'July 2,1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: INVEN TOR g dwarc? 112N16 A TTURNEY E. L. BBACY.

PAPER RECEPTACLE MAKlNG MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED MN. 3, 1911.

Patented July 2, 1918.

5 SHEET SSHEET 2.

INVENTOR Edward 1;, Brac B i B X m ATTORNEY W/ T/VESSES:

E.L.BRACY.

PAPER RECEPTACLE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 3. 1911 1 ,2? 1 AZZB Patented July 2, 1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

/NVE/V TOR Edward II. .Brac

BY L

. W ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

E. L. BRACYN PAPER RECEPTACLE MAKING MACHtNE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3. 1911.

1 ,2? 1 A22. Patented July 2,1918.

5 $HEETS-SHEET 4.

I VII/11114 tna!!! WITNESSES: 4 //v VE/V TOR 40 r #1 M A 4 3767 1 rd 1, B ra c m ATTORNEY E. L. BRACY.

PAPER RECEPTACLE MAKING MACHRNE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3. 1917] 1,2? 1 ,42 2. Patented July 2, 1918.

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EDWARD LFBEACY, BALTIMQRE, MARYLAND, ASSIG-NOR T RICHARD H. WRIGHT,

0F DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA.

PAPER-RECEPTACLE-MAKING MACHINE.

Specification of Eetters Patent.

Patented Juiy 2, i918.

Application filed January 3, 1917. Seriai 1t 0. M0399.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, EDWARD L. Butter, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Paper Receptacle Making Machines, I of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in machines for making paper cups,

troduc ed into the cups after the latter and more particularly those adapted to serve been made.

lhe machine comprises improved means for forming the cups or receptacles, upon suitable forming blocks or other objects, and simple and improved means for folding the bottom and side flaps and insuring permanent adherence thereof.

Tothese and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements, and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the

novel features being pointed out particularly in the'claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawings 2- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a paper cup-making machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is'a top plan view of a portion of the machine, parts'being removed.

- Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal'vertical section through the upper portion of the machine.

Fig. 4 represents a section on the line 4& of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Figs. 5' and 6 represent sections on the lines 5-5 and 66, respectively, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 represents a section on the line 77 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a si of the folding devices:

Fig. 9 represents a vertical longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the folding channel 'or box.

' 20-20 of Fig. 2.

de elevation, partly in section,

Fig. '10 is a view of the under side of the top of the folding channel or box.

Fig. 11. is a top plan view of the bottom of the folding channel or box.

Fig. 12 represents a transverse section of the folding channel or box on the line 1212 of Fig. 8.

Figs. 13 and 1a represent transverse sections through the folding box on the lines 13-13 of Fig. 8 and lit-14s of Fig. 9, re' spectively.

Fig. 15 represents atransverse section through the-folding channel or. box on the line 15-15 of Fig. 8.

I Fig. 16 represents a section on the line 16-16 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 17 is a side elevation of the device for removing the completed cups from the blocks and for receiving the separated cups and blocks.

Fig. 18 represents a section on the line 18-18 of Fig. 1'7.

Fig. 19 represents a section on the line 19-19 of Fig.1?

Fig. 20 represents a section on the line Figs. 21 and 22 illustrate diagrammatically the manner in which the forming block and the sheet from which the cup is to be made are initially presented with. respect to one another.

Figs. 23 and 24 show diagrammatically the first step in the formation of the cup,

' the sheet being doubled upon the forming block.

Figs. 25 and 26 illustrate diagrammatically, in end and side elevations, respectively, the forming block and the sheet after the second operation has been performed,

the lower side flaps or margins of the sheetbeing folded against the opposite edges of the forming block.

Figs. 27 and 28 illustrate diagrammatically the appearance of the cup or receptacle after the third operation has been performed, the bottom flaps of the cup or receptacle being folded upon the previously folded lower side flaps.

Fig. 29 shows diagrammatically the appearance of the cup or receptacle on the Figs. 30 and 31 are detail views showing and facility, and the cups or receptacles are so made that they present no interior obstructions which might interfere with or render difficult the subsequent introduction of their contents, although it will be understood that the cups or receptacles may be folded upon the packets of cigarettes or other material, in which case the packets would be advanced through the machine instead of the forming block. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not restricted to the particular construction shown, as equivalent constructions are contemplated and will be included within the scope of the claims.

In the present instance, the machine comprises a suitable base or frame lhaving a power or driving shaft 2 mounted in suitable bearings 3 in the frame, the shaft having a pulley or equivalent device A} through which power is transmitted thereto, and a clutch 5 having a controlling lever 6 is provided to enable the attendant to start and stop the machine as conditions may require. According to the present embodiment of the invention, the cups or receptacles are made to subsequently receive their contents in which case a number of free or unattached forming blocks are employed, the cups or receptacles being formed uponthese blocks while the blocks are advanced or circulated through the machine. Preferably, and as shown, a magazine 7 is provided to contain a supply of these forming blocks in the form of a stack A, the blocks of the stack preferably resting one upon another with their flat sides in engagement, and a reciprocatory plunger 8 operates'across the bottom of the magazine and pushes the forming blocks successively therefrom. The ejecting plunger for the forming blocks may be operated by a gear segment 9, a rack 10 operatively connected thereto, and a cam 11. the latter being fixed on the power or drive shaft 2. The paper sheets from which the cups or receptacles are to be made are preferably presented flatwise to the forward end of the lowermost forming block in the magazine whereby the advance of this forming block incident to its ejection or removal from the magazine will cause donbling of the sheet upon the upper and lower flat sides of the forming block. In the present instance, the mechanism for feeding the paper sheets, applying adhesive thereto at appropriate places, and presenting these sheets to the forming blocks is similar to the corresponding parts of the machine fully shown and described in my prior Patent No. 1,234,722, granted July 31,1917, to which patent reference is made for a complete explanation of the construction and mode of operation of a mechanism suitable for the performance of these functions. Briefly described, the mechanism shown comprises a runway 12 in which the sheets of appropriate size are placed, and the sheets are advanced along this runway, in a direction toward the left in Fig. 1, by an endless chain or conveyer 13 which has hooks or projections 14 thereon which project upwardly through the bottom of the runway and engage the sheets resting thereon, the movement of the chain serving to advance the sheets. A pasting or gumming device 15 operates to apply lines of paste or adhesive along those portions of the sheet which, in the making of the cup or receptacle, will constitute the last folded flaps thereof. A chute 16 is located at the end of the runway toward which the sheets are fed, this chute being arranged to receive the sheets and to guide them into a position perpendicular to the direction in which the forming blocks are advanced. Stops 17 at the bottom of the chute position the sheets so that the middle of each sheet will be in line with the forward end of the forming block as the latter is brought into engagement therewith. .As, in my prior application referred to, the walls of the chute are apertured to permit the forming block to pass therethrough and to double the sheet upon its .upper and lower sides. A folding box or channel 18 is located beyond the chute and in alinement with the openings therein, and this folding box or channel receives the forming block and the sheet doubled thereon and it contains devices for' folding successively the lower side flaps, the bottom flaps, and the top flaps of the sheet against the two sides of the block to form the cupor receptacle. Preferably, and as shown, the folding box or channel comprises upper and lower sections 19 and 20, the upper section at the receiving end of the box or channel preferably having a width corresponding to the width of the sheet from which the cup or receptacle is to be made and having downwardly directed flanges 21 to cooperate with the edges of that portion of the sheet which is onthe upper side of the forming block. the flanges serving to maintain the sheet in properly centered relation to the forming block, and the lower a0 order to provide for a compact and uniform folding of the flaps at the forward end of section 20 at the receiving end of the folding box or channel is narrowed to a width corresponding substantially to the width of the forming block. The first folding operation is performed While the forming block having a sheet doubled thereon occupies a position in the receiving end of the folding box, this first folding operation consisting in folding upwardly the two lower side flaps or margins of the sheet against the respective sides of the folding block. Preferably, and as shown, the first fold is effected by a pair of folding blades 22 which are carried by a head 23 attached to vertically movable rods 24, the latter being guided in a bearing 25 which is in fixed relation to the frame of the machine, and the rods 24 are reciprocated at appropriate intervals by a cam 26, the latter being fixed on the power or drive shaft 2. The folding blades 22 are so spaced that when they rise to perform the folding operation they straddle or pass the side edges of the lower section 20 of the folding box, the upper edges of the folding blades coming against the margins of the sheet which project beyond the narrowed or reduced portion of the folding box, and the continued upward movement of these folding blades bends these flanges or margins against the'sides of the forming block. Figs. 23 and 24 show the sheet as it appears prior to this first folding operation, and Figs. 25 and 26 show the appear- .ance of the sheet immediately after the first fold has been made. In these figures a represents the forming block and 7) represents the sheet from which the cup or receptacle is made. 'At the time the first fold is made. the sheet projects from opposite sides of the forward end of the forming block, and in the forming block, the folding blades are provided with ears 27 which project outwardly from the respective folding blades and at substantially a right angle thereto. These ears are located at the ends of the folding blades opposite to the forward end of the forming block at the time the first fold is made, and these ears or wings 27 bend and crease thesheet sharply and regularly onthe diagonal lines 7). In the folding box or channel immediately beyond the folding blades 22 are located a pair of end folders 28, these end folders being located in theopposite sides of the box or channel and they are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of the forming blocks to enable these forming blocks and the sheets thereon to pass. The ends 29 of the end folders occupy positions opposite to the ears or wings 27 when the latter are elevated and they cooperate with the cars 27 to fold or crease the sheet on the diagonal lines 6. Each forming block at the first step in its advance through the folding box or channel will position the sheet thereon in' operative relation with the lower side folding blades 22, and the middle portions of the sheet which project from opposite sides of the forward end of the forming block will rest, against the forward ends 29 of the bottom folders 28, and hence the lower side folds and the folds on the diagonal lines I) are made at one operation.

The folders 28 serve to double or bend the middle portions of the sheet against the sides of the forming block to make the bottom fold of the cup or receptacle, and these folds are made during the second step in the advance of the forming block through the folding box or channel, the advance of the block causing the portions of the sheet projecting from oppositesides of its forward end to be bent or folded against the previously folded lower side flaps owing to the passage of the block through the space between the folders 28. In order to provide for-the bulging of the sheet during this end folding operation, the upper'section 19 of the folding box is provided with recesses or cavities 30. Thesevcavities will permit the end folds to be made in the sheet without buckling the sheet, and the further advancing movement of the block will cause the sheet to be creased or bent sharply on the diagonal lines 6 Figs. 27 and 28 show theappearance of the partially completed cup or receptacle at this time. The final operation of folding the upper side flaps of the sheet downwardly upon the two previously folded flaps at each side of the block is performed during the further advance of the block through the folding box or channel. Preferably, and as shown, the upper section 19 of the folding box is formed at its sides with converging plows or inclines 31 which receive the outstanding margins or flaps of the sheet at the upper side of the block and 'to which the lines of adhesive 5 have been applied. and the advancing movement of the block causes these plows to fold these upper side flaps against the previously folded lower side flap and the end or bottom flaps.

Toward its discharge end. the folding box or channel has a reduced portion which conforms substantially to the cross-section of the forming block and the cup or receptacle there0n.'the formed receptacle being thereby held in proper shape and the folded flaps being retained in properlv folded relation during the remainder of the travel of the forming block and receptacle through the folding box.

In order to insure permanent adherence of the pasted and folded flaps of the receptacle, a runway is provided to receive the re-' ceptacles, containing their forming blocks from the folding box. As shown, a channel 33 is provided having springs or resilient strips 34 arranged at the sides thereof and in position to bear upon the folded flaps of the inwardly with a yielding pressure by springs 39. The forming blocks with the cups or receptacles thereon advance through the folding box and the channel just described while the blocks are in end-to-end contact, and the advancing movement is efiected step-by-step by the slide or plunger 8 which removes the forming blocks successively from the magazine. Eachtime a forming block is removed from-the magazine, it abuts against and advances the forming block immediately in advance thereof, and in this way all the forming blocks in the folding box and the channel are advanced simultaneously and by a step-by-step movement.

After the formation of the cups or receptacles has been completed, the cups or receptacles are removed from their forming blocks and the forming blocks may then be returned to the magazine for subsequent use. The mechanism provided by the present invention for removing the cups or receptacles from their forming blocks comprises a pair of sectors 40 having friction faces 41 on their peripheries, these friction faces being concentric with the shafts 42 with which the sector rotate. The friction faces 41 are preferably composed of strips of relatively soft rubber and they may be secured in position byclamps 43 which grip their ends. The sectors are located at opposite sides of the line along which the forming blocks with the receptacles thereon are advanced and they are located immediately beyond the discharge end .of the channel 33. The shafts 42 which carry the sectors and on which the sectors rotate as axes are journaled in bearings 44 and they are connected for simultaneous rotation by pairs of gears 45 which connect these shafts to a driving shaft 46. The latter may be driven continuously in any suit-able way, it being shown provided in the present instance with a sprocket wheel 47 with which a chain 48 cotiperates, this chain being driven from asprocket wheel 49, and the latter is driven from a chain 50, this latter chain bein driven from a shaft 51 connected to t e power or drive shaft 2. The

friction faces on the sectors rotate in unison so that they bear simultaneously on the gummed or pasted flaps of the receptacle at opposite sides of the forming block, as

each forming block is brought into a positionbetween the sectors. The sectors move in a direction away from the discharge end of the channel 33 and they therefore exert a force on the cup or receptacle which tends to pull the receptacle and the forming block forward. In order to retain the forming block during the action of the sectors, a detent 5:2 is provided, this detent carrying a pin 53 which enters an aperture 54 in the forming block as the latter reaches a position where it presents the cup or receptacle thereon to the sectors. The detent may be operated at appropriate intervals by any suitable connections, an operating cam 55 being provided for this purpose on the power or drive shaft, and this cam operating the detent through a link 56 and a detent operating arm 57. In order to facilitate removal of the cups or receptacles from the forming blocks, each forming block is preferably provided with grooves or channels a which will permit air to enter the cup or receptacle during its withdrawal, thus avoiding a vacuum within the cup or receptacle. Also, each forming block is preferably provided with recesses a to compensate for the increased thickness of the side walls of the cups or receptacles where the end or bottom folds are made. This is advantageous in that it insures substantially uniform pressure upon the pasted side flaps of the receptacle during the travel of the same through the channel 33. p

The present invention also provides means for delivering the finished cups or receptacles and the forming blocks in such a way as to separate the receptacles from the blocks, enabling the blocks to be returned to the magazine for subsequent use and the receptacles to be collected or conveyed from the machine for the subsequent reception of their contents. Preferably, and as shown, a rocker 58 is provided, it being mounted on a shaft 59 and arranged to rotate in an are opposite to the discharge side of the sectors. This rocker has a pair of pockets 60 and 61 therein the pocket 60 being adapted to receive a receptacle after the same has been removed from its forming block, and the pocket 61 is adapted to receive the forming block from which the receptacle was removed. The receptacle is fed into the pocket 60 while the rocker occupies such a position that the pocket 60 is in the line of discharge of the sectors, and the pocket 61 receives the forming block after the rocker has rotated so as to bring the pocket 61 into the line of discharge of the block. Spring latches 62 and 63 may be provided above the pockets to retain the receptacle and block, respectively, therein. The outer sides of these pockets, however, are open, and when the rocker is in position to receive a receptacle the pocket 61 will be inclined sufficiently to cause the forming block therein to discharge by gravity. Also, when the rocker OCCHIJIGS its reverse position, that is to say,

magazine for the forming blocks is located,

and a projection or stop 67 is preferably provided in the runway to arrest the forming blocks after they reach a position in proximity to the magazine. The attendant may conveniently remove the blocks from the runway 66 and place them in the magazine 7. The conveyer'65 may be driven in any suitable way, it' being driven in the present instance by a chain 68 which in turn is driven from the shaft 51. The rocker 58 may be oscillated at appropriate intervals by an arm 69 fixed to its supporting shaft 5 alink 70extending from the arm 69 to a cam 71 on the power or.drive shaft 2, and the cam serving to oscillate the rocker at appropriate intervals.

In order to insure certainty in the e11- gagement of the pin 53 with the apertures 54 in the forming blocks, an arm 72 may be provided having a roller 73 thereon, which roller will occupy a position in the path of the block as the same is advanced to the position where the cup or receptacle is to be removed therefrom. This arm- Will thus act as a stop to prevent advance of the block beyond its proper position. The arm, however, is retracted after it has positioned the block in order to provide a clear path for the removal of the paper cup or receptacle. For this purpose, a cam 74 is provided with which a portion 75 of the arm 72 cooperates, and a spring 76 acts to hold the portion 75 in engagement with the cam, The cam is rotated by the shaft 46 on which it is mounted, the arm 72 in consequence operating in properly-timed relation to the operation of the sectors.

The cup or receptacle produced by the machine as herein shown and described is capable of receiving a pack of cigarettes or contents of other character without catching of the contents during its insertion, as

By providing circulating forming blocks,

upon which the cups or receptacles are made. certainty in the different operations and uniformity in the sizes and shapes of the cups or receptacles are secured. The mode of removing the completed cups or receptacles from the blocks avoids damage to or distortion of the cups, and by feeding the sheets to the blocks automatically, the sheets are presented in uniformly correct relation to the blocks. The means for advancing and otherwise handling the forming blocks is not claimed herein but forms the subject-matter of a divisional application, Serial No. 181,791, filed July 20, 1917.

I claim as my invention 1. In a machine for making paper receptacles, folding means embodying a channel along which an object having a sheet doubled over an end thereof is movable, a pair of folding blades movable past opposite sides of the channel and operative upon a pair of the side flaps of the sheet to fold such flaps against theadjacent sides of said object, andmeans operative concurrently with said blades to crease the sheet at the junctions of the folded side flaps and the doubled ends of the sheet.

2. In a machine for making paper cups, folding means embodying a channel adapted to receive an object having a sheet doubled over an end thereof, and a pair of folding blades movable past a side of the channel and operative upon adjacent flaps of thesheet to fold the same against opposite sides of said object, said folding blades also having wings operative to bend the sheet at the junctions of the folded flaps and the doubled ends of the sheet.

3. In a machine for making paper cups, folding means embodying a channel to receive an object having a sheet doubled on an end thereof, end folders located in said channel adjacent to the doubled end of the sheet. and side folders movable past a side of the channel and operative to fold the adjacent flaps of the sheet against opposite sides of said object, said side folders also having wings cooperative with the end folders to bend the sheet at the junctions of the side flaps andthe doubled ends of the sheet.

of the sheet, means for folding the doubled ends of the sheet against the previously folded side flaps. and means for folding the remaining side flaps of the sheet against the previously folded side and end flaps.

5. In a machine for making paper receptacles, folding means embodying a channel along which an object having a sheet doubled over an end thereof is movable, means for folding a pair of the side flaps of the sheet against said object and for concurrently creasing the sheet at the junctions of said folded side flaps and the doubled ends of the sheet, means for subsequently folding the doubled ends of the sheet upon the previously folded side flaps, and means for finally folding the remaining side flaps against the previously folded side and end fla )s.

5. In a machine for making paper receptacles, the combination of a runway along which an object having a sheet doubled over its end is adapted to be advanced, presenting two pairs of laterally projecting side flaps and a pair of laterally project-mg end flaps, a pair of blades aving laterally turned wings movable past opposite sides of the object to initially fold one pair of side flaps against the adjacent sides of the object and to concurrently crease the sheet at the junctions of such folded side flaps and the unfolded end flaps, means subsequently operative to fold the end flaps against the previously folded side flaps, and means operative to finally fold the remaining pair of side flaps against the previously folded side and end flaps.

7. In a machine for making paper receptacles, the combination of a runway along which an object having a sheet doubled over its forward end is adapted to be advanced, the sheet presenting two pairs of laterally projecting side flaps and a pair of laterally projecting end flaps at the forward end of the object, means operative to initially fold a pair of the side flaps against the respective adjacent sides of the object and to con currently crease the sheet at the junctions of the folded side flaps with the unfolded end flaps, means subsequently operative by an advance of the object along the runway to fold the end flaps against the previously folded pair of side .flaps andto concurrently crease the sheet at its junctions of the folded end flaps with the remainin unfolded side flaps, and means operative y a further advance of the object along the runway to finally fold said remaining air of side flaps against the previously fold d side and end flaps.

8. In a machine for making paper receptacles, the combination of a runway along which an object having a sheet doubled over its forward end is adapted to advance said runway having at one side a wall to engage one side of the sheet and provided with flanges to cooperate with the longitudinal edges of said side of the sheet and thus position the sheet on the object, and the runway having at its opposite side a wall of a width corresponding substantially to that of the object and exposing the pair of side flaps at the respective side of the object, and a pair of blades movable past the latter wall of the runway and operative u on said exposed pair of side flaps to fold the same against the adjacent sides of the object.

9. In a machine for making paper receptacles, the combinatiom of a runway along which an object having a sheet doubled over its forward end is adapted to be advanced, the sheet initially presenting two pairs of laterally projecting side flaps and a pair of laterally projecting end' flaps, means operat-ive to fold one pair of side flaps against the adjacent sides of the object and to concurrently crease the sheet at the junctions of the side flaps thus folded and the unfolded end flaps, the runway having therein folders cooperative with the end flaps to fold the same against the previously folded side flaps during advance of the object along the runway, and the runway also having a wall adjacent to said folders to engage a side of the sheet during folding of its end flaps, said wall having recesses to accommodate the end flaps during folding thereof.

10. In a machine for making paper receptacles, the combination of a runway along which an object having a sheet doubled over its forward end is adapted to be advanced, the sheet initially presenting two pairs of laterally projecting side flaps and a pair of laterally projecting end flaps, means for folding one pair of side flaps against the adjacent sides of the object and for concurrently creasing the sheet at the junctions of the side flaps thus folded and the unfolded end flaps, means for subsequently folding the end flaps against the previously folded side flaps, and folders at opposite sides of the runway to finally fold the remaining pair of side flaps against the previously folded side and end flaps during advance of the object along the runway.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD L. BRACY. Witnesses:

BEVERLY W. SMITH, CLARA A. FISHER. 

